The United States Forces Korea (USFK) military will temporarily transfer 110 troops and 18 helicopters from South Korea to provide humanitarian aid to tsunami-hit South Asian countries, according to South Korean Defense Ministry on Thursday.

South Korea's office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was informed of the US decision on Tuesday night, South Korean Yonhap News Agency quoted Shin Hyun-don, a Defense Ministry's spokesman, as saying.

The US troops and helicopters will offer medical services and fly foods and other supplies to earthquake-tsunami victims in the region, Shin said.

About 32,500 US troops are currently stationed in South Korea.

Earlier this week, Navy Adm. Thomas Fargo, chief of the US Pacific Command, said the US military plans to double the number of relief helicopters to about 90 by deploying some from South Korea and Guam.